Get Your Race On With BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing 09

If you’re looking for some serious racing fun on your iPhone or iPod, BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing (BMWF1) could be just the ticket. Developed by Artificial Life Inc, this app features (you guessed it) the BMW Sauber F1 Team of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica in their 2009 campaign. In BMWF1, you can compete in a number of different game modes including races, time trial, championship, challenge, and even compete in a contest to win some real racing gear.

From the word go, BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing really shows off the graphics capabilities of the iPhone. The attention to detail in the tracks and cars is evident – you can even see the water spray off the tires during a “wet” session. Combine the great visuals with the built-in accelerometer-based controls and authentic sound, and you’re in for a real racing experience.

BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing offers only one car, but there’s lots you can do. Your options are almost unlimited; whether you like quick races, championships, or time trials, this application’s got it. During your races, if you cruise into the pits it’s even up to you to change the tires, gasoline, and other parts. All of this is done by spinning, shaking, or tapping the iPod or iPhone. It makes for a great gaming experience.

Another solid feature of BMWF1 is the ability to change viewing modes to suit your preference – you can cycle through outside the car, inside the car, or to a ground view. The first-person mode puts you in the seat of the driver and makes for a challenging race on the tight turns and high-speed tracks. Everything is 100% up-t0-date with the real team, so what you look at inside the car is what the real F1 drivers looks at inside of theirs.

With BMWF1 there are a lot of options to extend the life of the game and Artificial Life now has implemented in-app purchases, so you can learn how to make donuts, become the fastest pit crew, or control the car you’re driving from an “engineer’s” point of view. So, if you ever get tired of racing, there’s always more for you to explore.

BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing is a great game; the graphics are top-notch, everything is realistic, and the music is pretty cool. One of the only complaints I have is the control sensitivity: getting a handle on the BMW can be a little bit of a struggle. When you turn, there seems to be a bit of lag. But at any rate, at the current $1.99 asking price, BMW F1 Sauber Team Racing 09 is a steal. So get out there and race!

BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch.